This copper engraving is from a remarkable series of publications, illustrating voyages of discovery and travels of exploration to various parts of the world. The project was begun by Theodore de Bry of Frankfurt, in 1590 and was to continue for another 54 years. They became known collectively as the Grands Voyages (to America and the West Indies) and the Petits Voyages (to the Orient and the East Indies). De Bry died after the first six parts of the Grands Voyages were completed. The project was completed initially by his widow and two sons, Johann Theodore de Bry and Johann Israel de Bry, then by his son-in-law, Matthaus Merian in 1644.

This striking engraving was published in Part IV of de Bry's Grands Voyages, which covers Girolamo Benzoni's travels throughout the West Indies. Here the Indigenous people of Darien in Panama are depicted literally quenching the Spanish's thirst for gold by pouring liquid gold down their throats. In the background of this brutal and macabre torture are images of the Indigenous people hacking off the Spaniards limbs and roasting them over a fire (although the text states that some were afraid to eat the corpses because they thought the Spanish too evil). On a sheet of Latin text measuring 9.6 x 13.4".

References:

Condition: B+

On a lightly toned sheet with a pair of small rust spots in engraved image and tiny worm holes in the bottom blank margin.